arXiv subjects

Silvio Ghilardi

Publications and source records attributed to Silvio Ghilardi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

A Proof Theory for Profinite Modal Algebras

In a previous paper, we showed that profinite $L$-algebras (where $L$ is a variety of modal algebras generated by its finite members) are monadic over $\mathbf{Set}$. This monadicity result suggests that profinite $L$-algebras could be presented as Lindenbaum algebras for propositional theories in infinitary versions of propositional modal calculi. In this paper we identify such calculi as modal enrichments of Maehara-Takeuti's infinitary extension of the sequent calculus $\mathbf{LK}$. We also investigate correspondences between syntactic properties of the calculi and regularity/exactness properties of the opposite category of profinite $L$-algebras.

math.LO↗

arXiv2025

An essentially algebraic glance to Kripke semantics: the S5 case

We show that the category of finite $\textit{S5}$-algebras (dual to finite reflexive, symmetric and transitive Kripke frames) classifies the essentially algebraic theory whose models are Kan extensions of faithful actions of the finite symmetric groups.

math.LO↗

arXiv2025

A Completeness Theorem for Topological Doctrines

We extend logical categories with fiberwise interior and closure operators so as to obtain an embedding theorem into powers of the category of topological spaces. The required axioms, besides the Kuratowski closure axioms, are a `product independence' and a `loop contraction' principle.

math.CT↗

arXiv2025

First-Order Modal Logic via Logical Categories

We extend the logical categories framework to first order modal logic. In our modal categories, modal operators are applied directly to subobjects and interact with the background factorization system. We prove a Joyal-style representation theorem into relational structures formalizing a `counterpart' notion. We investigate saturation conditions related to definability questions and we enrich our framework with quotients and disjoint sums, thus leading to the notion of a modal (quasi) pretopos. We finally show how to build syntactic categories out of first order modal theories.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2025

A calculus for modal compact Hausdorff spaces

The symmetric strict implication calculus $\mathsf{S^2IC}$ is a modal calculus for compact Hausdorff spaces. This is established through de Vries duality, linking compact Hausdorff spaces with de Vries algebras-complete Boolean algebras equipped with a special relation. Modal compact Hausdorff spaces are compact Hausdorff spaces enriched with a continuous relation. These spaces correspond, via modalized de Vries duality, to upper continuous modal de Vries algebras. In this paper we introduce the modal symmetric strict implication calculus $\mathsf{MS^2IC}$, which extends $\mathsf{S^2IC}$. We prove that $\mathsf{MS^2IC}$ is strongly sound and complete with respect to upper continuous modal de Vries algebras, thereby providing a logical calculus for modal compact Hausdorff spaces. We also develop a relational semantics for $\mathsf{MS^2IC}$ that we employ to show admissibility of various $Π_2$-rules in this system.

math.LO↗

arXiv2024

Unification with Simple Variable Restrictions and Admissibility of $Π_{2}$-rules

We develop a method to recognize admissibility of $Π_{2}$-rules, relating this problem to a specific instance of the unification problem with linear constants restriction, called here "unification with simple variable restriction". It is shown that for logical systems enjoying an appropriate algebraic semantics and a finite approximation of left uniform interpolation, this unification with simple variable restriction can be reduced to standard unification. As a corollary, we obtain the decidability of admissibility of $Π_{2}$-rules for many logical systems.

math.LO↗

arXiv2023

Relational Action Bases: Formalization, Effective Safety Verification, and Invariants (Extended Version)

Modeling and verification of dynamic systems operating over a relational representation of states are increasingly investigated problems in AI, Business Process Management, and Database Theory. To make these systems amenable to verification, the amount of information stored in each relational state needs to be bounded, or restrictions are imposed on the preconditions and effects of actions. We introduce the general framework of relational action bases (RABs), which generalizes existing models by lifting both these restrictions: unbounded relational states can be evolved through actions that can quantify both existentially and universally over the data, and that can exploit numerical datatypes with arithmetic predicates. We then study parameterized safety of RABs via (approximated) SMT-based backward search, singling out essential meta-properties of the resulting procedure, and showing how it can be realized by an off-the-shelf combination of existing verification modules of the state-of-the-art MCMT model checker. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach on a benchmark of data-aware business processes. Finally, we show how universal invariants can be exploited to make this procedure fully correct.

cs.AI↗

arXiv2023

Profiniteness, Monadicity and Universal Models in Modal Logic

Taking inspiration from the monadicity of complete atomic Boolean algebras, we prove that profinite modal algebras are monadic over Set. While analyzing the monadic functor, we recover the universal model construction - a construction widely used in the modal logic literature for describing finitely generated free modal algebras and the essentially finite subframes of their canonical models.

math.LO↗

arXiv2022

General Interpolation and Strong Amalgamation for Contiguous Arrays

Interpolation is an essential tool in software verification, where first-order theories are used to constrain datatypes manipulated by programs. In this paper, we introduce the datatype theory of contiguous arrays with maxdiff, where arrays are completely defined in their allocation memory and for which maxdiff returns the max index where they differ. This theory is strictly more expressive than the array theories previously studied. By showing via an algebraic analysis that its models strongly amalgamate, we prove that this theory admits quantifier-free interpolants and, notably, that interpolation transfers to theory combinations. Finally, we provide an algorithm that significantly improves the ones for related array theories: it relies on a polysize reduction to general interpolation in linear arithmetics, thus avoiding impractical full terms instantiations and unbounded loops.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2022

Uniform Interpolants in EUF: Algorithms using DAG-representations

The concept of uniform interpolant for a quantifier-free formula from a given formula with a list of symbols, while well-known in the logic literature, has been unknown to the formal methods and automated reasoning community for a long time. This concept is precisely defined. Two algorithms for computing quantifier-free uniform interpolants in the theory of equality over uninterpreted symbols (EUF) endowed with a list of symbols to be eliminated are proposed. The first algorithm is non-deterministic and generates a uniform interpolant expressed as a disjunction of conjunctions of literals, whereas the second algorithm gives a compact representation of a uniform interpolant as a conjunction of Horn clauses. Both algorithms exploit efficient dedicated DAG representations of terms. Correctness and completeness proofs are supplied, using arguments combining rewrite techniques with model theory.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2022

Admissibility of $Π_2$-Inference Rules: interpolation, model completion, and contact algebras

We devise three strategies for recognizing admissibility of non-standard inference rules via interpolation, uniform interpolation, and model completions. We apply our machinery to the case of symmetric implication calculus $\mathsf{S^2IC}$, where we also supply a finite axiomatization of the model completion of its algebraic counterpart, via the equivalent theory of contact algebras. Using this result we obtain a finite basis for admissible $Π_2$-rules.

math.LO↗

arXiv2021

Interpolation and Amalgamation for Arrays with MaxDiff (Extended Version)

In this paper, the theory of McCarthy's extensional arrays enriched with a maxdiff operation (this operation returns the biggest index where two given arrays differ) is proposed. It is known from the literature that a diff operation is required for the theory of arrays in order to enjoy the Craig interpolation property at the quantifier-free level. However, the diff operation introduced in the literature is merely instrumental to this purpose and has only a purely formal meaning (it is obtained from the Skolemization of the extensionality axiom). Our maxdiff operation significantly increases the level of expressivity; however, obtaining interpolation results for the resulting theory becomes a surprisingly hard task. We obtain such results via a thorough semantic analysis of the models of the theory and of their amalgamation properties. The results are modular with respect to the index theory and it is shown how to convert them into concrete interpolation algorithms via a hierarchical approach.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2020

Combined Covers and Beth Definability (Extended Version)

In ESOP 2008, Gulwani and Musuvathi introduced a notion of cover and exploited it to handle infinite-state model checking problems. Motivated by applications to the verification of data-aware processes, we proved in a previous paper that covers are strictly related to model completions, a well-known topic in model theory. In this paper we investigate cover transfer to theory combinations in the disjoint signatures case. We prove that for convex theories, cover algorithms can be transferred to theory combinations under the same hypothesis (equality interpolation property aka strong amalgamation property) needed to transfer quantifier-free interpolation. In the non-convex case, we show by a counterexample that covers may not exist in the combined theories, even in case combined quantifier-free interpolants do exist. However, we exhibit a cover transfer algorithm operating also in the non-convex case for special kinds of theory combinations; these combinations (called `tame combinations') concern multi-sorted theories arising in many model-checking applications (in particular, the ones oriented to verification of data-aware processes).

cs.LO↗

arXiv2020

Petri Nets with Parameterised Data: Modelling and Verification (Extended Version)

During the last decade, various approaches have been put forward to integrate business processes with different types of data. Each of such approaches reflects specific demands in the whole process-data integration spectrum. One particular important point is the capability of these approaches to flexibly accommodate processes with multiple cases that need to co-evolve. In this work, we introduce and study an extension of coloured Petri nets, called catalog-nets, providing two key features to capture this type of processes. On the one hand, net transitions are equipped with guards that simultaneously inspect the content of tokens and query facts stored in a read-only, persistent database. On the other hand, such transitions can inject data into tokens by extracting relevant values from the database or by generating genuinely fresh ones. We systematically encode catalog-nets into one of the reference frameworks for the (parameterised) verification of data and processes. We show that fresh-value injection is a particularly complex feature to handle, and discuss strategies to tame it. Finally, we discuss how catalog nets relate to well-known formalisms in this area.

cs.AI↗

arXiv2020

Diego's Theorem for nuclear implicative semilattices

We prove that the variety of nuclear implicative semilattices is locally finite, thus generalizing Diego's Theorem. The key ingredients of our proof include the coloring technique and construction of universal models from modal logic. For this we develop duality theory for finite nuclear implicative semilattices, generalizing Köhler duality. We prove that our main result remains true for bounded nuclear implicative semilattices, give an alternative proof of Diego's Theorem, and provide an explicit description of the free cyclic nuclear implicative semilattice.

math.LO↗

arXiv2019

Formal Modeling and SMT-Based Parameterized Verification of Data-Aware BPMN (Extended Version)

We propose DAB -- a data-aware extension of BPMN where the process operates over case and persistent data (partitioned into a read-only database called catalog and a read-write database called repository). The model trades off between expressiveness and the possibility of supporting parameterized verification of safety properties on top of it. Specifically, taking inspiration from the literature on verification of artifact systems, we study verification problems where safety properties are checked irrespectively of the content of the read-only catalog, and accepting the potential presence of unboundedly many tuples in the catalog and repository. We tackle such problems using an array-based backward reachability procedure fully implemented in MCMT -- a state-of-the-art array-based SMT model checker. Notably, we prove that the procedure is sound and complete for checking safety of DABs, and single out additional conditions that guarantee its termination and, in turn, show decidability of checking safety.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2019

Formal Modeling and SMT-Based Parameterized Verification of Multi-Case Data-Aware BPMN

We propose DAB -- a data-aware extension of the BPMN de-facto standard with the ability of operating over case and persistent data (partitioned into a read-only catalog and a read-write repository), and that balances between expressiveness and the possibility of supporting parameterized verification of safety properties on top of it. In particular, we take inspiration from the literature on verification of artifact systems, and consider verification problems where safety properties are checked irrespectively of the content of the read-only catalog, possibly considering an unbounded number of active cases and tuples in the catalog and repository. Such problems are tackled using fully implemented array-based backward reachability techniques belonging to the well-established tradition of SMT model checking. We also identify relevant classes of DABs for which the backward reachability procedure implemented in the MCMT array-based model checker is sound and complete, and then further strengthen such classes to ensure termination.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2019

Quantifier Elimination for Database Driven Verification

Running verification tasks in database driven systems requires solving quantifier elimination problems of a new kind. These quantifier elimination problems are related to the notion of a cover introduced in ESOP 2008 by Gulwani and Musuvathi. In this paper, we show how covers are strictly related to model completions, a well-known topic in model theory. We also investigate the computation of covers within the Superposition Calculus, by adopting a constrained version of the calculus, equipped with appropriate settings and reduction strategies. In addition, we show that cover computations are computationally tractable for the fragment of the language used in applications to database driven verification. This observation is confirmed by analyzing the preliminary results obtained using the MCMT tool on the verification of data-aware process benchmarks. These benchmarks can be found in the last version of the tool distribution.

cs.LO↗